In the biggest synergy in the Indian telecom industry yet, leading cellular service providers BPL Mobile, Escotel, RPG Cellular and Spice Telecom, have forged what they have named the 'MobileFirst' Alliance to provide enhanced value to their customers.

Announcing this at a press conference, President & CEO, BPL Mobile F B Cardoso said along with two other strategic partners, enhanced value would be provided through tariffing, roaming, long distance calling and new generation technology and services.

The special rates of tariff for the services would be announced in ten days and added the tariff would be composite and facilitate clear cut customer benefit to three million subscribers across 700 cities in the country.

MobileFirst would also facilitate seamless roaming across the country and over 400 international networks. In addition, a 'Roaming Rewards' programme would also be on offer. The technological services would include payments through mobile phones, mobile internet access, mobile entertainment and national location-based services all of which will be introduced in a phased manner.

Escotel Mobile CEO Rajan Swaroop and RPG Cellular MD Dilip R Mehta, who were also present, said in spite of the alliance, the individual identity would be retained. The expenditure would be shared rationally by the alliance partners, he added.

They said MobileFirst encompasses contiguous cellular circles, with BPL Mobile in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Escotel in Haryana, Kerala, West Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh, RPG Cellular in Chennai and Spice Telecom in Punjab and Karnataka.

UNI